Concurrent method of building construction and formwork structure therefore

Abstract

A multi-story concrete building is constructed concurrently, that is, the steps for constructing the same are carried out simultaneously on different respective stories. To achieve this end, vertical formwork members for forming the columns and bearing walls for one story are erected. Then decking formwork is erected for forming a concrete slab to serve as the floor for the next story thereabove. Formwork spacers are affixed to the tops of the vertical formwork members and these spacers provide mounts, extending through the thickness of the slab to be formed, for mounting the vertical formwork members for the next story. The vertical formwork members for the next story are then erected. Fresh concrete is poured into at least the vertical fromwork members and is permitted to cure and solidify into the vertical support members for that story. Other formwork members are erected above the next story while concrete is concurrently poured and formwork is stripped on different respective stories. The form spacers can, e.g., be channel members or, alternatively, closed-end angle members.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of constructing a multi-story building made of poured-in-place concrete, in which each story thereof has a concrete slab constituting a floor thereof and vertical support members supporting a concrete slab constituting the floor for the next story thereabove, with the vertical support members for each said story being substantially in vertical alignment with corresponding vertical support members of the next story therebeneath, comprising erecting vertical formwork members for the vertical support members for one said story;   erecting decking formwork for the concrete slab of the next story thereabove;   affixing formwork spacers to the top of said vertical formwork members, said spacers providing mounts extending through the thickness of the slab to be formed in said decking formwork for mounting vertical formwork members for the next story;   erecting said vertical formwork members for said next story;   pouring fresh concrete at least into said vertical formwork members of said one story to solidify into said vertical support members;   curing said vertical support members;   pouring and curing said slabs and vertical support members for at least the next story thereabove; and   stripping said vertical formwork members from said vertical support members and said decking formwork from said concrete slabs.   
     
     
       2. A method of constructing a multi-story building made of poured-in-place concrete, in which each story thereof has a concrete slab forming a floor thereof and vertical support members supporting a concrete slab forming the floor for the next story thereabove, with the vertical support members for each said story being substantially in vertical alignment with corresponding vertical support members of the next story therebeneath, comprising erecting vertical formwork members for the vertical support members for one said story;   erecting decking formwork for the concrete slab of the next story thereabove;   affixing formwork spacers to the top of said vertical formwork members, said spacers providing mounts extending through the thickness of the slab to be formed in said decking formwork for mounting vertical formwork members for another story immediately above said next story;   laying in reinforcing members for the decking formwork so erected;   providing reinforcing members for the vertical support members for said other story above said next story;   erecting vertical and decking formwork for at least one further story above said other story, together with said formwork spacers separating the vertical formwork members for successive such stories;   pouring fresh concrete at least into said vertical formwork members of said one story to solidify into said vertical support members for said one story;   curing said vertical support members;   pouring and curing said slabs and vertical support members for the stories thereabove; and   stripping said vertical formwork members from said vertical concrete support members and said decking formwork from said concrete slabs;   wherein formwork members are installed on a plurality of successive stories such that at one given time, for said plurality of successive stories, the formwork is stripped from the vertical concrete support members for a lowest story thereof, the concrete is poured for the next story thereabove, the reinforcing members are laid in for a story above said next story, and said formwork members are erected for another story two stories above said next story; and the steps of said method of constructing are carried out concurrently.   
     
     
       3. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to either claim 1 or claim 2; wherein said formwork spacers are formed as channel members having mounting apertures therein a predetermined distance apart. 
     
     
       4. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to either claim 1 or claim 2; wherein said formwork spacers are formed as angle members including vertical flange members joined to one another along one edge thereof and having a top and bottom spaced a predetermined distance apart, and attaching means disposed at said top and bottom, respectively, to which the bottom and top of the vertical formwork members for successive stories can be respectively affixed. 
     
     
       5. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 4; wherein said vertical flanges are joined at a right angle and said attaching means include corresponding horizontal square flanges. 
     
     
       6. A method of constructing a multi-story building made of concrete poured in place, in which each story thereof has a concrete slab constituting a floor thereof and vertical columns supporting a concrete slab constituting the floor for the next story thereabove, with the columns for each story being in vertical alignment with the corresponding columns of the next story therebeneath, comprising erecting column formwork members for one story;   erecting decking formwork for the concrete slab of the next story thereabove;   affixing formwork spacers to the top of said column formwork members, said spacers providing mounts extending through the thickness of the slab to be formed in said decking formwork, for mounting column formwork members for the next story;   erecting said column formwork members for the next story and mounting the same on said formwork spacers;   pouring fresh concrete at least into said column formwork members of said one story to solidify into said vertical columns;   curing said columns;   pouring and curing said slabs and columns for at least the next story thereabove; and   stripping said column formwork members from the cured columns and the decking formwork from the cured concrete slabs.   
     
     
       7. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 6; further comprising affixing further such formwork spacers atop the column formwork members of said next story; and   erecting on said further such formwork spacers the column formwork members stripped from the cured columns of a previous story below.   
     
     
       8. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 6; wherein said column formwork members are erected by placing together an array of panels together forming a box, each said panel having vertical edges and a pair of flanges along vertical edge extending at right angles to said panel and outwardly with respect to said box; and   joining the array of panels together with a plurality of angle pieces each formed of a pair of vertical flanges fused together along one edge thereof, with each said flange of each angle piece being removably affixed to a corresponding flange of one said panel.   
     
     
       9. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 8; wherein said panels are provided with apertures near top and bottom ends thereof at a predetermined spacing respectively therefrom; and said formwork spacers are channel members having mounting apertures therein a predetermined distance apart corresponding to the thickness of the desired slab plus twice the predetermined spacing from the apertures in said panel to the respective ends thereof; and said affixing the formwork spacers includes applying removable connecting means through said apertures in the panels and through the associated mounting apertures in said channel members.   
     
     
       10. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 9; wherein said channel members are mounted on the inside of said box so as to be contained within the concrete columns and any slab formed therebetween, when said column formwork is stripped from said columns. 
     
     
       11. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 8; wherein said angle pieces each have horizontal flanges closing off top and bottom ends thereof; and said formwork spacers are each formed as closed-end angle members including vertical flange members joined to one another along one edge thereof and having a top and bottom spaced apart a predetermined distance corresponding to the thickness of the associated slab and horizontal flanges disposed at said top and bottom; said affixing the column formwork members being carried out by detachably mounting said horizontal flanges of said angle members to respective horizontal flanges of the angle pieces of the column formwork for an associated column. 
     
     
       12. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 11; wherein said horizontal flanges of said angle pieces and of said angle members each have a central aperture therethrough; and said affixing is carried out by placing bolts through associated apertures of said angle pieces and angle members. 
     
     
       13. A method of constructing a multi-story building according to claim 8; wherein said angle pieces have horizontal flanges closing off top and bottom ends thereof; and said formwork spacers include a plurality of vertical flanges joined along a common edge and having a top and bottom spaced a predetermined distance apart corresponding to the thickness of the associated slab; and attaching means disposed at said top and bottom for detachably mounting said formwork spacers to the horizontal flanges of the angle pieces of the formwork for a column of one story and an associated structural member in vertical alignment therewith in the story next thereabove. 
     
     
       14. Formwork structure for use in construction of a multi-story building made of poured-in-place concrete and in which each of various steps of construction can be carried out concurrently on successively arranged stories thereof, each such story having a concrete slab constituting a floor thereof and vertical support members supporting a concrete slab constituting the floor for the next story thereabove, with the vertical support members for each said story being substantially in vertical alignment with corresponding vertical support members of the next story therebeneath, comprising vertical formwork members defining spaces into which fresh concrete can be poured to form said vertical support members for one such story, each said formwork member extending from a position corresponding to an upper surface of one slab to a position corresponding to a lower surface of the corresponding slab for the next story thereabove, the formwork members being strippable from the vertical support members formed therewithin for reuse in forming similar such support members;   vertical formwork spacers removably affixed to the top of said vertical formwork members of each of a plurality of stories and extending through the thickness of the slab to be formed for the next story thereabove and constituting mounts upon which the vertical formwork members for the next story are supported; and   horizontal decking formwork means in which the concrete slabs for each of said plurality of stories are formed in place, such means being strippable from the associated slabs when the later have been formed and cured;   with said vertical formwork members, said formwork spacers, and said horizontal decking formwork means for said plurality of said stories being erected and supported only by their own structure, before concrete support members in the vertical formwork members for the lowermost of said plurality of stories have cured sufficiently to support structural stresses.   
     
     
       15. Formwork structure according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of stories is at least four stories, so that while poured-in-place concrete support members are curing in the formwork members of lowermost story; fresh concrete can be poured into the formwork members of the next story thereabove; reinforcing elements can be laid in for the story two stories above the lowermost story; and the formwork members for the uppermost story can be mounted in place on the formwork spacers extending upward from the top of the formwork spacers of the story immediately therebeneath.